Padma Suramala, Nunavut’s chief coroner, was born in India to a military family.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

She joined the Indian military in 1983 and served as a nurse for 21 years.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

She was sent to the North, where her nursing experience was highly valued, when she arrived in Canada in 2005. In the last three years, Padma has overseen more than 500 death investigations.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

Padma, or one of her volunteers, conducts an external examination on every death in the territory.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

Nunavut has high rates of murder, suicide and sudden infant death among its peoples.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

Padma began working as chief coroner by filling in for a sick leave.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

Padma expects to remain as chief coroner for about 10 years. Most only last a handful of years before moving on to something else.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)

“If one person dies in a family, it takes a long time to recover from the shock of their loss. For me, it’s like constant waves hitting every day and every hour,” she says of the emotional toll her work can take.(Erik Boomer For the Globe and Mail)